Lighting fixture for elongated tubular fluorescent lamps



C. D. M CANN June 2, 1953 LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR FLORESCENT LAMPS Filed June 26, 1950 Patented June 2, 1953 OFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Clyde D. McCann, Des Moines, Iowa Application June 26, 1950, Serial No. 170,338

1 Claim.

My invention relates to the art of lighting fixtures. Specifically I have invented a lighting fixture designed to use a fluorescent tube as the lighting element, the ends of which may be concealed from View by movable caps and which has a mounting bracket removable cover therefor.

Although there is variation in the sockets of lighting fixtures designed to use fluorescent tubes as a lighting element, there is one form of socket that is by far the most common. A fluorescent lighting tube is usually of elongated shape having contact prongs at each end. The usual fluorescent tube fixture is an elongated frame with a socket member at each end spaced apart so that their inside faces substantially define the length of the tube minus the contact prongs. The socket plates have an annular groove extending around their inside upper face. At each side of this groove and inserted in it is an electrical contact plate. A vertical entrance slot extends from the outside edge of each plate and across the face of the plate to the far side of the annular groove. The tube is inserted in the fixture by arranging the prongs to align with this entry slot and then slidably inserting the prongs into both socket plates simultaneously. When a prong on each end of the tube engages the side of the annular groove farthest from the opening of the entry slot, the tube is then rotated ninety degrees until each prongcontacts one of the electrical contact plates mentioned above. This rotation of the tube also places the prongs in such a position that they will not become disengaged unintentionally. While these socket plates are extremely efficient they are not very pretty;

and if they could be concealed from view by caps or covers, it would improve the appearance of the unit considerably. However, the manner in which the bulbs are inserted into the socket plates necessitates a means for moving these caps or covers out of the Way when it is necessary to change bulbs, replace the starter, or service the unit in some other way.

Recently these fluorescent tube fixtures have been widely used for lighting the mirrors secured to medicine cabinets in the bathroom. In order to secure a fixture to such a cabinet, a bracket is usually provided. Commonly, these brackets have left the screw or bolt heads which are used to secure them exposed. In order to not detract from the appearance of the unit too much, these screws have usually been chrome plated or otherwise given a bright finish. Sometimes the frame itself is secured to the cabinet and When this is done, a concealed form of securing is used. The bolts and nuts or screws holding the frame on the cabinet usually extend through the back side of the frame. In order to get at these securing elements, it isnecessary to remove the tube and most of the superstructure of the unit. If it were possible, therefore, to devise a bracket With a securing element concealing means thereon, considerable time and effort could be saved in mounting the unit. Also cheaper non-plated screws or nuts and bolts could be used without loss of attractive appearance.

For all the reasons indicated above, it is the principal object of my invention to provide a lightin fixture for use with a fluorescent tube that has a tube end and socket concealing means incorporated in it. A further object of my invention is to provide a lighting fixture for use with a fluorescent tube which has a tube end and socket concealing means that may be quickly and easily moved to permit removal and replacement of the tube or starter. A still further object of my invention is to provide such a lighting fixture having a mounting bracket thereon that permits easy access to the securing elements and provided with a concealing cover. It is a still further object of my invention to provide a lighting fixture for use with fluorescent tubes that is attractive in appearance and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my lighting fixture with a tube mounted therein,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a fragment of my device with the tube end and socket concealing cap shown in cross-section as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Broken lines illustrate the hinged position to which the cap cover may be removed when servicing the fixture,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the mounting bracket and a fragment of the fixture. A portion of the mounting bracket cover is broken away to illustrate the means for securing the mounting bracket to a wall a fragment of which is shown,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a fragment of one end of my lighting fixture with the tube end and socket cover shown in the open position.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the numeral l6 to designate the main frame or body portion. A socket plate designated 1 I is mounted in each end and has an entry slot I2 formed in it through which the prongs 13 of the tube 14 are inserted when mounting the tube. The prongs I3 are secured in a tube end designated 15 and provide both a means for holding the tube on the fixture by engaging the socket plates and also a means for contacting current to the interior of the tube. A starter unit designated I6 is conventionally mounted near one end of the tube. A tube end and socket plate concealed cap or cover designated I1 is hingeably mounted at each end of the main frame 10 by means of a slotted bracket 18 that is rigidly secured to the frame and a finger designated 19 on each cap. The finger is inserted through the slot and then bent back upon itself. In this manner the finger and slotted bracket form a hinge to secure the cap I! to the frame. On each side of each cap a boss 20 is formed that is positioned as to engage one of the holes 2| provided for that purpose in a frame I0. Thus the cap is held by the engaging of the bosses with their respective holes in a position to cover and conceal from view their socket plates and tube ends as shown in Fig. 2. Since the action of the bosses with the holes is merely frictional, it can be readily seen that the covers I! may be easily hinged out of the way when removing and replacing a tube or starter. A mounting bracket 22 is rigidly secured to the main frame in any suitable manner and has holes designated 23 through which the mounted bolts and nuts 24 may be readily placed for securing the bracket to a cabinet wall or the like designated numeral 25, as shown in Fig. 3.

When a unit has been mounted, the unsightly nuts and bolts and other equipment such as the unit designated 26 which appear in the mounting bracket may be concealed by the cover designated 2.7 that snaps over the mounting bracket. The cover is held in place on the mounting bracket by the bosses 28 engaging the depression 29 formed in the mounting bracket. With the cover in place, the mounting bracket has the same attractive appearance as the main frame. The cover may be quickly and easily removed, however, if for any reason it is del sired to dismount the fixture or to reach elements mounted therein such as the unit 26.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my lighting fixture and method of making same without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included Within its scope.

I claim:

In a lighting fixture having a fluorescent tube as a lighting element therein, an elongated frame having a flat base and with the upper edges rounded, brackets secured to the ends of said frame near the base and extending away from each end of said frame; said brackets having elongated slots therein that extend parallel to the ends of said frame, means near each end of said frame on the top of it for supporting a fluorescent tube; said frame being substantially wider than a fluorescent tube, a pair of caps that are closed on three sides and one end and are open on one side and one end, a tongue formed on. one of said closed sides opposite to the open side of said caps and adjacent to the open ends of said caps, said tongue being bent back upon itself and through the slots in said brackets to form a hinged connection therewith, said caps being broader for substantially the half of their lengths which are nearest to said tongue, and bosses formed on the inside of each side of the broader section of each of said caps; said frame having boss receiving depressions formed therein; said caps Where said broader portions terminate forming shoulders that engage the top of the frame on each side of said tube supporting means.

CLYDE D. MCCANN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,301,228 Pollak et al Nov. 10, 1942 2,301,238 Alm Nov. 10, 1942 2,345,982 Manchan Apr. 4, 1944 2,382,878 Holecek Aug. 14, 1945 2,406,104 Ranney Aug. 20, 1946 2,421,967 Schepmoes June 10, 1947 2,440,186 Runge Apr. 20, 1948 2,464,971 Flood Mar. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 619,305 England Mar. 8, 1949 

